UW Extension, Arts & Culture SPECIAL Committee Meeting

July 21, 2016 Special Meeting Minutes (84 KB)

Members Present:     Judy Ashford, John Dietz, Donna Stehling, Chuck Spencer, Andy Andrews, Alan Anderson

UWEX Staff Present: Sue Nagelkerk, Jenny Erickson, Meg Sage, Morgan McArthur

Others Present:          Matt Hanson

______________________________________________________________________________

Call to Order

            The meeting was called to order at 9:02 AM.

Certification of Open Meeting Notice

            Requirements of the Open Meeting Law were met. 

Approval of Agenda

Motion made by Stehling, second by Andrews to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.  All in favor.

Discussion on Sauk County UW Extension priorities

Questions and answers are on page two of the minutes.  Erickson facilitated; feedback will be shared at the Intercounty Coordinating Committee (ICC) with UW Extension administration on July 27^th in Dodge County.  Marty Krueger, Judy Ashford, Chuck Spencer, Donna Stehling and Andrews plan to attend the ICC meeting on July 27^th in Juneau (Dodge County).

Discussion on vacant Sauk County UW Extension Agriculture Agent position

2017 budget will include funding for vacant Ag Agent position.

Next meeting dates: 

The next Regular meeting will be Wednesday, AUGUST 10, 2016,at West Square Blding.-9:00 AM

Adjournment

Motion made by Stehling, second be Dietz to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned.  All in favor.

Respectfully Submitted,

John Dietz, UW Arts and Culture Committee Secretary

Judy Gurgel, Recording Secretary

What are the priority issues and educational needs in Sauk County?

• Youth leadership development

• Support for organizational development

• Technology – help people use newest technology

• Agriculture education

• Economic development including business start-ups and entrepreneurship

• Resources for an aging population

• Promote the value and services of UW Extension to the public

• Empower others and build individual’s capacity.This may not be done at an individual level but rather a through training the trainer.
   

  What are the strengths of the UW-Extension?  What (services, products, programs, policies, etc.) should UWEX keep and strengthen as move forward?  Rank?

• Coalition building/serving as a catalyst to address complicated issues

• Research based

• Affordable programs

• Strong network of resources – UWEX often serves as a “broker” connecting people to resources

• Responsive to community needs

• Local presence.At times local UWEX staff serve as specialists in their areas of expertise

• Social capital – build relationships

• UW Extension staff is part of the community.Staff live in and are part of the Sauk County.

What parts of UW-Extension aren’t working well?

• Wisconsin Idea? Is it out of date?

• People may not know what UW Extension is.

• The public needs to utilize UW Extension services.Sauk County UWEX may be a “best kept secret”

• Difficult for UWEX staff to be truly responsive because their plate is full.

• Some may perceive that UWEX programs don’t have a direct economic return on investment

• UW Extension is not promoted well enough
   

If we need to reduce the Sauk County UWEX budget what should we cut?

• There was a long discussion on this topic, but no clear direction.

What do you wish Sauk County had been asked prior to the rollout of the framework for the nEXT Generation model?

• More public input is needed regarding the future of UW Extension.

What key messages should be conveyed to UWEX Administration at the July 27^th ICC meeting?

• Sauk County UWEX, Arts and Culture Committee would like the option to offer UWEX programming at county level (not regional).This may require additional funding from county to make up for state cuts.

• Important to keep all four program areas – 4H/Youth Development, Agriculture, Community/Economic Development and Family Living.

• Sauk County would like to dictate its own educational programs based on local needs.

• More public input is needed regarding future of UW Extension